Ola Cabs has announced the launch of emergency services in Bangalore, which will allow non-coronavirus patients to travel back and forth to the hospitals for treatment. The company calls the service 'Ola Emergency and is currently available only in the city of Bangalore, with expansion into other major cities being planned as well.

The 'Ola Emergency' service is available on the app. The service is a collaboration between Ola Cabs and the Ministry of Health, Government of Karnataka. It enables customers to book cabs and complete essential medical trips. Customers can choose the drop location from a list of over 200 registered hospitals. This also ensures the trips made are for medical travel alone.

Anand Subramanian, Spokesperson and Head of Communications, Ola, stated:

"Ola Emergency will help thousands of citizens get access to quick, convenient and safe transport for trips from home to hospital and vice versa, amidst the minimal availability of transportation during this time. With a dedicated network of sanitised cars and trained drivers, the service will be available 24×7 on the Ola app for citizens of Bengaluru."

He further added, "We thank the Karnataka State Govt for the opportunity to collaborate in serving our citizens in these challenging times. We will continue to collaborate with Central and State Governments to provide hassle-free mobility solutions for essential travel and make similar services available in more cities soon."

Shri B. Sriramulu, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka speaking at the launch said

"After the lockdown, for COVID-19 all 108 ambulances are being used. To ensure citizens are not troubled, Ola has come forward and will transport people with all cases of medical trips and emergencies that don't require an ambulance, between homes and hospitals, for a minimal charge. This permission has been provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to provide an essential service to the citizens in need."

Ola also stated that the trip will be specifically for non-coronavirus patients. It can be used for those patients who do not require an ambulance. Customers will be charged a nominal fee for the services by the driver-partners.

The company did confirm that the cabs will have specially trained drivers. It will also come equipped with essentials like masks and sanitizers as well.

Thoughts On The Ola Emergency Service Offered In Bangalore

We feel it is an excellent step by Ola, especially during the strict lockdown period. With private vehicles being banned in the state, the emergency service by Ola cabs will definitely help patients reach hospitals for treatment, without any travel worries.